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Friday, October 22, 2004
Vice mayor in hot water over stolen luxury van
By Ernie N. Olson Jr.
CAMP DANGWA, La Trinidad -- Charges were filed the Wednesday against Vice Mayor Joy Luna of Lagayan, Abra, after she was intercepted at a police checkpoint driving a luxury vehicle reportedly stolen in Manila sometime last year.
The license plate attached to the stolen van was also reportedly taken from another vehicle.
Chief Supt. Rowland Albano, director of the Police Regional Office in the Cordillera and concurrent Task Force Abra commander, described the alleged stolen vehicle caught in Luna's possession to be a white Mitsubishi Adventure van bearing license plate number XGB-523, motor number 4D56A-L7738 and chassis number PAEVB5WLX1B002749.
The name of its original owner was listed on computer records of the PNP Traffic Management Group as Antonio Guevarra of 55 15th Avenue, Caloocan City.
Albano said personnel of Task Force Abra, composed of members of the PNP Special Action Force, the PNP Criminal Investigation and Detection Group and the PNP Traffic Group, while conducting a checkpoint operation along Rizal Street, Zone 7, Bangued, Abra, flagged down the vehicle after Luna was noticed not to be wearing any seatbelt at around 10:30 a.m. of October 19.
A standard check of the vehicle revealed it was in the list of wanted or stolen vehicles and is registered under the name of Luzviminda Germental of 63-A Xavierville Avenue, Xavierville Subdivision, Loyola Heights, Quezon City, added Albano.
He said the vehicle was reported stolen while parked in front of Germental's residence on May 30 last year.
"Further verification made with the Land Transportation Office in Baguio disclosed that the plate number attached to the vehicle was registered and issued to a Mitsubishi Delica passenger van under the name of Camilo Melendez of 2-D Matatag Street, Pinyahan, Quezon City," he said.
The stolen vehicle is now under the custody of Task Force Abra.
"A case for an alleged violation of Republic Act 8750 or the Seatbelt Law was prepared for filing against the vice mayor. Additionally, pending the result of a follow-up investigation, she will also either be charged for a separate violation of RA 6630 or the Anti-Carnapping Law or Presidential Decree 1612 or the Anti-Fencing Law," Albano said.
(October 22, 2004 issue)
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